La Pistola y el Corazón / La Pistola y el Corazon

La Pistola y el Corazón is an excellent album that stands out from the rest of Los Lobos’ discography for a couple of reasons. First, it’s sung entirely in Spanish and contains a variety of traditional Mexican folk songs and some originals inspired by them, so it reveals their love of the form and that part of their heritage more than other albums. Second, it was released in 1988 in the wake of their popular breakthrough (they recorded 6 songs for the hit soundtrack to the Ritchie Valens biopic La Bamba), and this commercial risk shows how dedicated to their craft they are above other considerations. The joy conveyed on this album is palpable: dazzling nylon guitar solos, soulful violin breaks, and passionate harmony singing. Los Lobos wrote several of these tunes, including the title track, and they’ve mastered the style so completely they blend in seamlessly with the traditional covers. Altogether a thoroughly engaging release and a fine sampling of Mexican folk music by some of America’s best ambassadors of the style.